Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time — September 6, 2026

Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook and Instagram.

Click here for the readings.

St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Romans that the only debt we should owe one another is the debt of love. Love is willing the good of another. It is generous, sacrificial, and self-giving. We see its fullest expression on the Cross, where Jesus gave his life—not to save himself, but to save us. That is authentic love. That is the debt we owe one another.

Love, then, is far more than a feeling. It is a decision to seek another person's good, even when it costs us something. Love asks not, "What can I get?" but rather, "What can I give?"
In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to respond when a brother or sister has gone astray. He begins, not with condemnation, but with a personal conversation. If that fails, others are invited to help. Only as a final step is the matter brought before the wider Church. Every step has the same purpose: not to shame, but to heal; not to drive away, but to bring someone home.

This is not harshness. It is love. Jesus desires that no one be lost. Fraternal correction, when offered with humility and charity, is an act of mercy because it seeks the salvation of another.

The same must be true of us. Whether in our personal relationships or in society, we are called to act out of love—not vengeance, hatred, or fear. Love does not ignore wrongdoing, nor does it remain silent in the face of injustice. To do so would not be loving at all.

For that reason, the Church continues to speak with clarity about the dignity of every human person—from the unborn child to the victim of racism, and whenever human life or human dignity is threatened. We do so not to condemn, but to call all people to the truth that sets us free. As the prophet Ezekiel reminds us, we have a responsibility to warn those who are headed down a destructive path.

May everything we say and do be rooted in the love we owe one another—the love that seeks the good of every person made in the image and likeness of God.

Have a blessed week, everyone.